You already have sys-kernel/linux-firmware-20121030 installed. If you look in /lib/firmware, you will probably find that it provides the same files as net-wireless/ar9271-firmware.
Thats not allowed. Packages that do the same thing with the same files may not both be installed at the same time.

Indeed, I have ar9271.fw as I have sys-kernel/linux-firmware-2012103. You do not need to install net-wireless/ar9271-firmware.

This interface will not start at boot automatically. You need to add it to the default runlevel for that._________________Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

just to update. Ive managed to install the drivers by uninstalling linux-firmware first. The usb device is showing up when I type lsusb but the device does mot seem to be working. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Depending on which kernel version you have, what you have might be the wrong firmware. You should do what NeddySeagoon says, use linux-firmware. It contains Atheros firmware for all kernel versions. In particular, newer kernels need htc_9271.fw

<mini_rant>Why does Gentoo even provide separate firmware packages? It only causes problems like in this thread. Only firmwares that aren't part of linux-firmware should have their own package</mini_rant>